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Monday, July 16, 2012

Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand...Review & Give Away!

The Queen Bee (find her HERE) just finished reading the latest from Elin Hilderbrand, Summerland. Here are the details and what my well read mother-in-law had to say....

Overview

A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. But what begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver of the car, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny's boyfriend Jake and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt - but the emotional damage is overwhelming, and questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.

As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents - secrets kept, promises broken, hearts betrayed. Elin Hilderbrand explores the power of community, family, and honesty, and proves that even from the ashes of sorrow, new love can still take flight.

The Queen Bee's take....

What makes a book a "summer read"? For me it needs
to be a lighthearted book, big print, easy reading, not too much soul-searching
needs to be done, preferably written about life at the seacoast. Hilderbrand
writes these types of books. The fact that she lives on Nantucket Island and
writes about Nantucket Island is a big plus for summer reading. Although this
book starts out with a tragic auto crash, resulting in the death of a teenage
girl, all the other "have to haves" for summer reading is in this book.

Zoe Allistair is a master chef living on Nantucket with her twins Penny
& Hobby. Both were about to enter their senior year in high school. Their
dad had died before they were born, so they were raised by Zoe, a single
parent.

Jordan Randolph was editor of the island newspaper, owned by his family for
decades. He was married to Ava, who had been a recluse since the death four
years prior of their infant son. They had a teenage son, Jake, who happened to
be the childhood boyfriend of Zoe's daughter Penny.

Zoe & Jordan had a secret. They had been having an affair for the last
few years and were in love. But Zoe knew Jordan would never be able to leave his
sick wife.

On the night of graduation, Penny, Jake & Hobby swing by to pick up
their overweight & outcast friend Demeter Castle and head to the beach for a
party. Demeter, who is a closet alcoholic, had stolen a bottle of Jim Beam and
brought that along in hopes it would make her some fast friends.

When it was time to leave the party, Penny, who did not drink was visibly
upset, insisted on driving home. They all took off in Jake's Jeep and as they
headed down the road, Penny put her foot on the accelerator and drove right off
the dunes.

Life on the island would change forever............

Add this one to your beach bag, a good "summer
read".

Sounds like a hit with the Queen Bee! Be sure to grab a copy for your beach bag...

The publisher is giving THREE lucky RBM readers a copy of Summerland! Thanks so much to the sponsor and here is how to enter....
a Rafflecopter giveaway